Public Notice Law

Public notices inform citizens of the everyday activities of government. From government spending to developing new policies, it is important for people to be informed of actions taken by public officials that affect citizens’ everyday lives. Public Notices are essential to a democracy and an informed citizenry. Without Public Notices, citizens cannot properly and adequately make informed decisions.

While the Internet is a great resource for information, public notices have been and remain most effective in newspapers. Newspapers are the watchdogs of their local communities and can most effectively monitor the actions of their respective local governments. This not only allows local residents to be informed but it also forces local public officials to be held accountable. Additionally, Notices in newspapers are permanent records that cannot be altered or deleted. They are also more accessible as anyone can have access to a newspaper as opposed to the internet.

PublicNoticesOhio.com, a service of the Ohio Newspaper Association, offers a compilation of public notices published anywhere in the state of Ohio, uploaded immediately upon publication in participating Ohio newspapers. Find statewide notices about hearings, advertisements for bids, financial reports, adoption of ordinances, and other government activities legally requiring public notice.

The ONA also offers a series of ads about public notices, which are available for use by all newspapers in Ohio. To access the ads, click here.

ONA members who have questions about public notices should contact the ONA.

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Photo of Ohio Statehouse stairwell copyright by and used with the permission of Jordan Steele.